Congenital Heart Disease.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the name given to any heart defect or malformation that is present at birth. Most congenital heart defects involve the malformation of a structure within the heart and/or the large vessels that either leave or enter the heart. Congenital heart disease is the most common of all major birth defects, occurring in about one out of every 100 babies born.

In some patients, the defect(s) may be mild and unnoticed at birth, then diagnosed later in life. In other children, the effects of the defect(s) are so severe that diagnosis occurs either before birth or around the perinatal (newborn) period. With the sophisticated medical technology now available for diagnosis and treatment, many babies born with congenital heart disease now go on to lead healthy, normal and full adult lives.

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